Most engineering consultants have limited experience in how a project gets built compared to contractors nor to bid for a construction project. The drawings and specifications prepared by the engineering consultant are for the Contractors to review and interpret, which could be different than the intent of the engineering consultant, thus increasing the likelihood of directive and constructive changes, claims, and disputes. Therefore, it is highly recommended to perform the Biddability and Constructability Review Process to ensure a cost-effective design that is biddable, buildable, and maintainable.
Constructability Review is a formalized process that utilizes a team with extensive construction knowledge to ensure that a design is buildable while also cost-effective, biddable, and maintainable, with reduced overruns and delays. A Constructability Review is to be conducted separately from and independently of the design team. The scope of the Constructability Review is to be flexible to suit the individual project requirements.
Biddability Review is a review of contract documents to identify errors, omissions, and conflicts in plans, specifications, quantities, work items/activities, operational constraints, and appropriate basis of payment. Biddability Review is part of the Constructability Review process.
There could be one or more Constructability Reviews during the development of design depending on the project’s complexity and size. Many of the organizations that are implementing constructability reviews have created predefined checklists for what needs to be analyzed and reviewed during those reviews. For example, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) created the “BCOE” checklist which to set the minimum set of guidelines for biddability, constructability, operability, and environmental review.
Using Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) like PMWeb those constructability and buildability reviews checklists can be created to Fulfill the analysis requirements for those reviews. PMWeb form builder module will be used to create those checklists for which against each item there will be confirmation that it was done and remarks provided by the reviewers. Those checklists can be separated into multiple tables if this is a requirement.
Some organizations, usually limit the use of the constructability review checklists to be no more than an audit checklist to confirm that those review items were completed. All design issues identified during those reviews will be captured in a separate Design Issue form that will also be created using the PMWeb form builder module. This form will include fields for Constructability Review Date, identified Design Issue, Discussion, Considerations, Conclusions, Actions, Responsible Person, Due Date, Completed Date, and Status.
The attachment tab for both forms, Constructability Review Checklist, and Design Issue, will be used to upload, store and attach all relevant project documents such as drawings, and specifications among others. In addition, it will be used to link relevant PMWeb records and imported emails to those two forms.
The workflow tab will be used to submit, review, approve, and finally approve the workflow process assigned to each one of those two forms. The workflow will enforce accountability and timely review by the involved project team members.
The design issues register will include a table that will detail the status of all raised design issues along with relevant information. The register will include visuals to detail the status of those actions that need to be taken to resolve the design issues and the count of actions assigned to each project team member.
About the Author
Bassam Samman, PMP, PSP, EVP, GPM is a Senior Project Management Consultant with more than 35-year service record providing project management and controls services to over 100 projects with a total value of over the US $5 Billion. Those projects included Engineering and Construction, Oil and Gas Plants and Refineries, and Telecommunication and Information Technology projects. He is thoroughly experienced in complete project management including project management control systems, computerized project control software, claims analysis/prevention, risk analysis/management (contingency planning), design, supervision, training, and business development.
Bassam is a frequent speaker on topics relating to Project Management, Strategic Project Management, and Project Management Personal Skills. Over the past 35 years, he has lectured at more than 350 events at different locations in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and South America. He has written more than 250 articles on project management and project management information systems that were featured in international and regional magazines and newspapers. He is a co-founder of the Project Management Institute- Arabian Gulf Chapter (PMI-AGC) and has served on its board of directors for more than 6 years. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI), a certified Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP), and Earned Value Professional (EVP) from the American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) and Green Project Management (GPM).
Bassam holds a Masters in Engineering Administration (Construction Management), (1982) with Faculty Commendation, GWU, Washington, D.C., USA, Bachelor in Civil Engineering (1980) – Kuwait University, Kuwait and has attended several executive management programs at Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, and London Business School, London, UK.